Chapter Four

At eight o'clock Severus knocked on his classroom door.

"Enter."

Opening the door Severus saw Harry lightly bent over a cauldron, exactly in the way he did.

"Well don't stand there gaping at me Mr Potter. Get in here the cauldrons won't clean themselves."

Severus shut the door behind himself. Approaching the desk he looked at the book Harry was using to make the potion. "What are you making?" Severus smirked. "Sir."

Harry looked up to check the door was closed and muttered a silencing spell. "So, how's life in the world of Harry Potter professor?"

"Enlightening. And in the life and times of Severus Snape?"

"Liberating. As to the potion. It's one I found in an old book. Did you know the portrait in your bedroom is of Salazar Slytherin?"

Severus looked mildly shocked. "No I didn't."

"Well it is, and he told me..."

"He talked, that portrait hasn't talked to the last three occupants of the room and before that we don't know."

"He told me that he needs a spell cast so he can speak English again. He understands it fine, but he can only speak pasletounge."

Severus paled slightly. "What did he tell you?"

"To call him Sal for a start."

"Sal?" Questioned Severus, humour laced through his voice.

"Yeah, that's what I thought too. The scariest man in the history of the school aside from you, and he likes to be called Sal. Anyways. He told me about a secret hiding place in your room. There is a button you have to press in the fireplace. It had a potions book in it with all his potions recipes in it." Harry gestured to the book on the table.

Severus almost bounded to stand next to Harry. "I can't read it." Severus said, disappointed.

"It's written in pasletounge. But this potion, is to allow the drinker to understand pasletounge. I'm making it so you can talk to Sal; he said I can't do the spell alone. But if you take more than three doses in a week the effects will be permanent."

Severus grinned broadly and bounced on his heels. "Cool." Both men stopped what they were doing shocked at Severus's actions, then Harry burst out laughing, and Severus smiled sheepishly. It was shocking to both of them just how relaxed Severus was now he wasn't putting on his 'big scary teacher' act all the time.

"It will be ready tomorrow. So if you come down after classes, you can test it out."

"I have to get though a night in Gryffindor tower first. It's been a long time since I had to sleep in a dormitory. And I have to go to classes again."

Harry smirked. "Well you've got teenage wining down to a tea. I have to actually teach classes. Although I am looking forward to seeing how you'll cope with all the Slytherin's trying to sabotage your potion."

An alarm sounded. "Damn, go start scrubbing before whoever it is gets here." Harry demanded. Severus complied involuntarily. He was surprised when as he approached the pile of dirty cauldron half of them cleaned themselves and a bowl of warm soapy water appeared.

Just in time, the door opened as Severus picked up the cloth.

"Good evening Severus, Harry."

"To what do I owe the pleasure Headmaster?"

"I was just wandering the halls Severus. I found myself at your door by pure coincidence. Is that potion to help your condition?"

"That is my hope." Harry stated. Severus watched on in awe as Harry lied professionally to the headmaster.

"Very good. Mr Potter."

Severus jumped. "Yes sir."

"What time did your detention start?"

"Eight o'clock sir."

"And it's almost nine already, well off you go you don't want to be out after curfew do you."

Harry scowled. "Headmaster, I must protest..."

"Now Severus, undoubtedly Harry can finish scrubbing cauldrons tomorrow night. By which time I'm sure you'll have more. Harry you'll just have to come down here every night say, seven o'clock until curfew. Good evening to you both my boys."

Dumbledore closed the door behind him.

"I think he knows." Said a bemused Harry.

"Knowing him, probably." Severus agreed.

"See you tomorrow then professor."

"I look forward to you teaching my class Harry."

Harry smirked. "Indeed."